Part 3, Chapters 24-27 Summary

In chapter twenty-four, May arrives, and with it comes the spring thaw. In this part of the world, spring comes in late May and eventually makes the river passable once more. Charlie and Hawthorn watch as the ice begins to rise and then recede along with melting water. The dam breaks twice, and before long, the cabin they had shared is completely underwater. Fortunately, the boys have the foresight to get out.

It isn't long before Charlie and Hawthorn take to the river. Soon thousands of boats seemed to be everywhere, and it is obvious that the boys are not the only ones that knew the time had come to move ahead. There is a major bottleneck in the water, and one of the Mounties must step in to make sure people can get through without a great catastrophe...